It's been a few years since I lived in a City - longer since you can't really count Long Island - and I had forgotten about the creative stories that bum's tell when they're looking for money. To the dismay of those walking with me, I tend to slow down and chat as I find this phenomenon pretty interesting. There weren't too many homeless people in Waco, Texas where I would have developed my bum ignoring skills. In San Diego they all seem pretty happy and usually just hold a cup out. Savannah's homeless are too hot to beg. The first time I went to New York City my fascination began - in a train while being serenaded by a particularly agressive performer. My husband has a rule about shoes - but I wont recount that here since I don't think it's really politically correct.
I heard two very creative stories while in Philadelphia. Here's how one of them went:
Me: Walking toward City Hall enjoying the scenery and looking at all the people who had to work.
Him: Walking toward me smiling with some paperwork in his hand and a tourniquet on his upper arm.
Me: Seeing a smiling person, I smile back because that is what I do.
Him: Spying a prospect, approaches. "No one is nice in this City - you from here?"
Me: "Nope, you?"
Him: "Nah, Allentown - say, could you do me a favor"
Me: Contemplating the distance between Allentown and Philadelphia and whether or not that would be considered from here - "Uh"
Him: Showing me bright orange official tow-like paperwork "See, I was gettin Dialysis since my kidney's are failing and my car got towed, now I need to find a bus"
Me: Having just passed a bus station, point in that direction "It's right over there"
Him: Looking irritated "Do you think you could help me out with the bus money"
Me: Feeling like a smart ass and realizing that I only had a ten dollar bill, apologize and continue walking - note to self - avoid smiling people with paperwork and tourniquets.
Some Phili pics below.
Oldest Barn in the US:
Bankers Graduation Class Photo
Gorgeous Penn Library
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